Liquid mixing valve structure



April 18, 1961 c. D. MCMILLAN 2,989,140

LIQUID MIXING VALVE STRUCTURE Filed May s, 1958 ATTOR/Vfff CHARLES 0. M M/ZZA/V United States Patent 2,980,140 'LI UID MIXING VALVE STRUCTURE Charles D. McMillan, 9567 California Ave., Arlington, Calif.

Filed May 6, 1958, Ser NO. 733,354 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-637) This invention relates, generally, to a liquid mixing valve structure.

The invention contemplates the application of a mixing valve in conjunction with a liquid dispensing cooler, and more specifically, to the utilization of a mixing valve in a manner which provides the user of the cooler with a selective choice in the temperature of the liquid dispensed therefrom. I

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a valve of this class which is usable in a liquid dispensing cooler wherein the operator may selectively obtain as a dispensed product the ordinary tap Water at local temperatures, water chilled by the water cooler, or a combination of the tap and chilled water.

It has been found that it is desirable to provide water of more than one temperature in order to satisfy the tastes of various users of water fountains. Consequently, the instant invention has, as another object thereof, the provision of a valve for selective operation whereby water of three diifering temperatures may be obtained although only a single heat exchange unit is utilized.

Preference for various temperatures of water for drinking have been found to vary during the seasons of the years. Utilization of a dispensing cooler equipped with the instant selective mixing valve makes three choices readily available to the user during any season and the operating costs of the dispensing units so equipped are reduced for under these conditions the cooling'unit would not be subjected to unnecessary use in instances where the user would select tap water or to a lessened degree of use where cool but not chilled or cold water was chosen.

While the valve constructed in accordance with this invention has been illustrated and will be described in conjunction with a dispensing cooler, it will be understood that it comprises a mixing valve for utilization in any suitable embodiment.

Still another object of this invention comprises the provision of a selective mixing valve of the class described supra, the valve being non-complex in construction and assembly, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure l is a detail longitudinal medial cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, of a mixing valve constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention and illustrating the internal construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the valve actuating selector elements utilized in the performance of this invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, on a reduced scale, of the valve structure as installed in a dispensing water cooler of conventional design, the outer frame of the cooler being shown in dotted line; and

2,980,140 Patented Apr. 18, 1961 "ice Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a. conventional water cooler having the selective valve structure of this invention installed therein.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a liquid mixing valve constructed in accordance with this invention. The valve 10 is seen to comprise an elongated substantially rectangular main body portion 12 having a pair of tap water inlet openings or passages 14, 16. The passage 14 connects through a passage 18 with an enlarged bore 20 which is, in turn, connected to one-end of an elongated liquid mixing passage 22. The water inlet passage 16 connects with the other end of the liquid mixing passage 22 through the passage 24 and the enlarged bore 26. Intermediate its ends, the main body portion 12 is formed with a tapped liquid discharge port 28 which, at itsinner end, is in open communication with the liquid mixing passage 22. The bores 20 and 26 are provided with sealing plugs 30, 32 and liquid inlet conduits 34, 36 are threaded into the passages 14, 16. A liquid discharge conduit 38 has one of its ends connected with the port 28 and its other end connected with a spigot 40 of a conventional drinking fountain 42.

The drinking fountain 42 includes a header '44 connected at one of its ends with a source of liquid under pressure, usually tap water, and to the conventional cooling coil, or unit 46 through conduit 48. As will be made more apparent below, the other side of the cooling unit 46 connects with the main body portion 12 of the valve 10 through the inlet conduit 34. The tap water header 44 is also connected directly with the valve 10 through the aforementioned conduit 36.

Disposed within the bore 20 is a valve seat 50 for a valve 52 fixedly secured to one end of a valve stem 54 reciprocable within a bore 56 and an enlarged counterbore 58. As is seen in Figure 1, the valve stem 54 extends through a packing gland 60 and a hold-down fitting 62 threaded into the counterbore 58. A valve actuating plate 64 bearing the legend Cold has a sleeve 66 fixedly secured to the other end of the valve stem 54. A helicoidal spring 68 under compression is interposed between the sleeve :66 andfit ting' 62 to bias the valve 52 constantly for movement in the directionoff its seat 50. The plate 64 has a stepped down shoulder 70 which serves a purpose to be described.

Disposed within the bore 26 is a valve seat 72 for a valve 74 fixedly secured to one end of avalve stem 76 reciprocable within a bore 78 and an enlarged counterbore 80. The valve stem extends through a packing gland 82 and a hold-down fitting 84 threaded into the counterbore 80. A valve actuating plate 86 hearing the legend Tap has a sleeve 88 fixedly secured to the other end of the valve stem 76. A helicoidal spring 90 under compression is interposed between the sleeve 88 and the fitting 84 to bias the valve 74 constantly from movement in the direction of its seat 72. The plate 86 is also provided with a stepped down shoulder 92 which is disposed in spaced confronting and aligned relation relative to the shoulder 70.

Interposed between the plates 64, 86 and supported on the shoulders 70, 92 is a third plate 94 having an integral sleeve 96 fixedly secured to one end of a stem 98, this plate bearing the legend Cool. As is seen in Figure l, the stem 98 is mounted for reciprocation through a fitting 100 which may be press-fit or threaded in an opening 102 that communicates at its inner end with a transversely extending pocket 104 in which the other end of the stem is adapted to reciprocate. Inadvertent disconnection of the stem 98 from the main body portion 12 is prevented by a cotter pin 106, and the plate 94 is constantly biased for movement in a direction away from the main body portion 12 by means of a helicoidal spring 108 under compression that surrounds the stem 98 and is interposed between the sleeve 96 and fitting 100.

The valve is connected to the underside of a water supply plate 110 having a conventional drain bowl 112 connected by means not shown with a drainage pipe.

Having described and illustrated the invention in detail it is deemed that the operation thereof is quite evident.

Should the user desire chilled or ice water, the plate 64 is depressed to move the valve 52 away from its seat 50. Under these circumstances the chilled water will leave the cooling unit 46 through the conduit 34 with the bores 14, 18 and 20 and thence into the mixing passage 22. The chilled water then passes through the bore 28 and the conduit 38 to be dispensed from the spigot 40. After finishing drinking, the operator merely releases the plate 64 and the valve is returned to its valve seat under the influence of the helicoidal spring 68.

If the user should desire to obtain tap water alone, the plate 86 is depressed to move the valve 74 away from its valve seat 72 thus establishing a flow of the tap water from the header 44 and the conduit 36 to the bores 16, 24 and 26 from whence the water passes into the mixing passage 22 for eventual discharge through the bore 28 and the discharge conduit 38. From the conduit 38 the tap water is then conducted to the spigot 40.

In the event the user merely desires cool water, the center plate 94 is depressed and since the same is supported on the shoulders 70 and 92 of the plates 64 and 86, respectively, actuation of the plate 94 effects sub stantially simultaneous actuation of the plates 64, 86 to release both tap water and cooled water into the mixing passage in the manner described above.

The temperature of the water discharged at the spigot 40 may be controlled, if desired, by selective operation of either of the plates 64, 86. Thus, substantially any temperature of water ranging between the temperature of the chilled water and that of the tap water may be obtained.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it is to be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that the instant invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Control means for selectively controlling the linear movement in one direction of two or more reciprocable elements, said control means comprising a plurality of control plates, said plurality consisting of an inner plate and a pair of outer plates, said plates each being mounted for reciprocating movement with said reciprocable elements and being constantly biased against a stop means so that they will tend to remain in a common plane, the outer plates each having a stepped shoulder formed at their respective proximal ends, and said inner plate being adapted to overlap said shoulders whereby depression of said inner plate results in corresponding depression of said outer plates.

2. A selective mixing valve comprising a valve body having a mixing chamber provided with a pair of inlets, each having a valve seat therein, and an outlet, reciprocable valve elements respectively cooperating with said seats and having stems arranged to extend exteriorly from said body, an operating member reciprocably mounted in said body and extending therefrom, means biasing said valve elements into engagement with said seats, means biasing said operating member outwardly of said body, means limiting said outward movement of said operating member, the length of said stems and said operating member being such that their ends lie in a common plane when in their outermost position, a plate associated with each of said stems and operating member and dimensioned so that their upper surfaces lie in a common plane and being in an end-to-end relationship, the plates associated with said stems having a stepped shoulder formed at their respective proximal ends, the plate attached to the operating member being overlapped by said shoulders so that the depression of the plate attached to said operating member results in a corresponding depression of both of said valve stems. 

